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Cricut Hanging Blade Caddy

01.20.2021 by Emily // 28 Comments

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Looking for a way to organize your small crafting space? Learn how to make a hanging organizer out of recycled boxes for your Cricut Maker Blades and Tips.

published April 4, 2020
updated January 20, 2021

The Cricut Maker has many different tips, blades, and tools. What is the best way to keep the blades and housings organized in a small workspace?

Previously, I’d created the Hanging Blade Caddy. With the release of the new Foil Transfer Kit, I had another housing and three new, narrow tips to easily lose.

The new version of the Hanging Blade Caddy has space for the Foil Tool and Tips, plus space to hang your Cricut scraper, tweezers, and weeding tools.

Hanging Blade Caddy in craft cupboard

I don’t have a craft room – in fact, my small craft area is an IKEA wardrobe inside of our master bedroom. There’s no space for a cute tool bench on a spacious table in my craft room, so I decided to design an organizer that would hang on the door and keep all of my blades and tips in easy reach.

small craft room organization - it's just an IKEA wardrobe.
Here’s my crafting space! I love how it looks totally clean when it’s closed. I’m actually able to fit lots of supplies, my computer, and my Cricut into the small closet.

The Hanging Blade Caddy can be cut out of corrugated cardboard, so there are no supplies to purchase. (You need to have the Cricut Maker and Knife Blade to cut it.) It’s a sturdy, recycled material that everyone should have on hand… especially now that we are all staying and home and ordering online more!

You can also make this project using Cricut Chipboard, poster board, or the thin cardboard from cereal boxes or cardstock books.

If you have the Explore Air, you can make this too! Just use posterboard, cereal boxes, or another thin cardboard, and edit the SVG file as needed for the tools and accessories that you have.

Cricut blade and tip organizer hanging from 3M hooks
This is the original version.
Updated Cricut blade, tool, and tip organizer hanging from 3M hooks
This is the updated version.

The space on the inside of the door was perfect to hang the caddy, so the swappable tips and housings are very close to my Cricut Maker.

No more misplacing the scoring tip while the fine point blade is cutting!

It’s just 1.5 inches wide, so it easily fits inside the cabinet with the doors closed.

The Ccaddy has space for the new foil tool and tips.
The tips sit in little recessed circles on a shelf.
blade shelf - Cricut Maker tool organizer
The blades hang down from the top rack.

After I created the first one, I realized I could use cardstock to jazz it up a little bit….but why stop there? I cut another top shelf out of glitter cardstock and just set it on the shelf.

Now, I can change the shelf color and material depending on my mood. (Yep, that’s probably going too far. But having options is good!)

pink glittered Cricut Maker hanging blade and tip organizer

Ready to create your own hanging blade caddy?

Note: You CAN create this project from the free file, but it does NOT have the drawings of the blades and tips.

If you’d like to make the project exactly as shown, you need to purchase the file (it’s only fair to pay the artist for her excellent work creating the complicated designs!)


Decide which file you will use:

Free SVG in Design Space
#1 – The FREE Small-Hanging_Cricut_Maker_Caddy_SVG_minorDIY is shown here.

To create the free version, download Design #25 – Simple Hanging Blade Caddy SVG from the Free Files Folder.

Hanging Blade Caddy with images in Design Space
#2 – This version is in the purchased file. If you want to make the Hanging Blade Caddy as shown, just use this file.
Hanging Blade Caddy with images, that has been edited in Design Space
#3 – This easily editable SVG is in the purchased file. In Design Space, for the example shown here, I added extra spots for housings, a space to keep my aluminium foil ball, and extra hooks for more tools. You can edit the SVG elements in Design Space to fit your needs.
Simple Hanging Blade Caddy

Want to download the FREE SVG file?

Head over to the 📂Free Files Folder and enter the ✨ magic word. ✨

(If you don’t have the magic word, just fill in the form at the bottom of the page first.)


Choose the material you will use to make the Cricut Hanging Blade Caddy.

You have three options:

  • Cricut 2mm chipboard (preferred material)
  • very thin cardboard; glue 3-4 layers together (from the back of a scrapbook paper pad, a cereal box, or poster board)
  • corrugated cardboard (choose a thin one; it can’t be double-layered)
Materials: Cricut Chipboard, thin cardboard, corrugated cardboard

Remember to do a test cut with the material you are going to use. Review the tutorial here if you want tips on cutting corrugated cardboard with your Cricut Maker and Knife Blade.

If you use the Cricut 2mm Chipboard, the default setting works perfectly. However, be prepared for a long cut time!


Please note, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. I only link to products I would recommend to my best friends without hesitation!


Materials needed to create the Cricut Hanging Blade and Tip Organizer:

  • Either the FREE Simple Blade Caddy SVG downloaded from my Free Files Folder – it’s Design #25 – Simple Hanging Blade Caddy SVG.

    OR

    the Cricut Hanging Blade Caddy SVG which includes the tip and blade images (purchased from the link on the right)
  • Cricut Maker with Knife Blade
  • Purple StrongGrip Mat
  • Blue LightGrip Mat
  • Cricut Chipboard, thin cardboard, or corrugated cardboard
  • Cricut Fine Point Marker or Gel Pens
  • Cardstock for covers and labels
  • 12×24 Cardstock for the large caddy
  • Tacky Glue
  • Glue Gun
  • Acetate or laminating sheet

How to cut and assemble the Cricut Maker Hanging Blade and Tool Caddy

1) Download the ZIP file. Unzip it and save the SVG file to your computer.

Upload the image(s) to Cricut’s Design Space and insert it into a new project.

SVGs in Design Space
If you are using the version with images, you’ll have four SVGs to upload.
Cricut Chipboard 2mm
2 mm Cricut Chipboard works very well for the sides, shelves and hooks.

2) Cut the shelves, sides, hooks and base.

If using thin cardboard or poster board, cut two or three pieces for each piece shown and glue them together.

Large or small bases

Cut the base from corrugated cardboard using the knife blade, or from several pieces of poster board or 80 lb. 12×24 inch Cricut cardstock.

3) Cut the decorative cardstock pieces.

These pieces include the covers for the sides and shelves, labels, and large back piece.

Check that all of the labels have the linetype “Draw” and a color is selected. (I’ve noticed recently that even if it says “draw”, I see an error message. I got rid of the error by simply restarting Design Space.) Also be sure that the text is Attached to the cut piece below it.

Draw linetype in Design Space


Cut cardstock to cover the inside and outside of the shelf sides. (Note that the outside doesn’t have a slot; it will be flat against the shelf.)

Sides of the Hanging Blade Caddy

Cut the shelf covers from cardstock. The foil tip cover has a score line in it, so it will fold down and cover the extra layers there.

Shelves with their covers

Cut the labels out of cardstock. There are two because two glued together are stronger than one.

Cardstock pieces to cut

Remember to test your marker with the material. (Once my new marker tore up the corrugated cardboard! I needed to use less pressure.) Here’s a review on writing with Cricut if you need it.

Test the writing on your labels. Test the pen or marker you want to use on the paper with one or two words before you cut out the pieces.

Gen pens vs. markers
You can see the difference in the text by using a gel pen or a marker.

If you are using the drawings: Use your favorite marker or pen to draw the base cover on a piece of poster board or Cricut 12×24 cardstock. Color in some of the tools by hand if you like.

Background for the base

4) For the hooks, if you are using the Cricut chipboard, glue two pieces together. Use a tacky glue.

If you are using poster board, glue four or five pieces together per hook.

I don’t recommend using corrugated cardboard for the hooks. They are too fine and will easily get crushed.

Hooks to be attached to the Hanging Blade Caddy

Note: the smaller hook is for the space for the Cricut Scraper. It’s the only tool with a smaller hole on the handle and doesn’t fit on the regular hooks.

Next, we’ll set the hooks in place on the baseboard.

Poke the hook through the slot, and pull it up.

Put a dab of hot glue under the hook, and on the top of the slot.

Use hot glue to hold the hooks in place

Push the hook down into the glue, and tilt it so the top of the back of the hook touches the base. Make sure the hook sits straight in the base.

Make sure the hooks are even.

Remember to put the small hook in the middle top slot.

After all of the hooks are glued in place, turn the base so the back side faces up and add more glue all around each hook for extra strength.

put extra glue on the back of the Hanging Blade Caddy
caddy base make from the back of cardstock pads
These hooks and base are made from several layers of cardboard from a pad of cardstock.

5) Glue the cardstock cover over the base. The cardstock cover helps hide any hot glue globs around the hooks.

Before putting any glue down, fit the base cover over the base. Gently wiggle the hooks to slide them through the paper, trying not to tear the paper. After it’s in place, lift it around the edges to glue underneath.

Glue the cover over the base

6) Then, glue the shelves together as shown below.

Glue shelves together

If you are using poster board or thin cardboard, use foam tabs between the layers on the tip shelf to give it more height if necessary. The tips need to sit down in the shelf enough so they don’t fall off if they are bumped.

cardstock shelves may need foam tabs to add extra height
You can see the foam tabs here
You can see how the foam dots give a little extra space for the tips to sit in.

Glue the cardstock covers to the inside and outside of the shelf sides.

Note: The tab is on the bottom. Be sure to have the tab on the bottom as you assemble the shelf so it fits together correctly.

Glue the shelf covers in place.

Next, run a line of hot glue into the bottom shelf slot.

Glue the shelf to the side.

Fit the shelf into place and hold it square while the hot glue cools and sets.

Glue the shelf in place well.

Glue the top shelf on, and then glue the right side on.

Make sure the shelves are square.
Glue the shelf to the base.

7) Glue the shelf to the base.

It seems to work better if you just put a few dabs of glue along the shelves and sides. If you try to run glue along all of the edges, the beginning will be cold by the time you get to the end.

Using the tabs as a guide, press the shelf on the base. (Remember, the tabs are on the bottom of the shelf!)

Glue in place.

8) Glue the labels on the front.

Glue labels on the front of the Cricut Hanging Blade Caddy.

9) Use acetate or a laminating pouch (laminated to itself) for the blade holders.

Cut and score the clear plastic for the blade holders. The light gray pieces (as shown below) will be the three blade holders.

After cutting and scoring it, fold the clear plastic into a square. The score lines will bend into corners.

The plastic creates containers for extra blades.

You can put a little glue on the bottom of the plastic to anchor the blade holders in the shelf.

It’s finished! Put all of your housings, tips, and tools in place.


Frequently Asked Questions about Blades

Question: Why are there three spots for extra blades?

Answer: I buy packs of non-Cricut brand blades on Amazon.

Question: Are they as good as the Cricut brand?

Answer: They cut just as well. They can NOT be “sharpened” by jabbing them repeatedly into a ball of aluminium foil. So, if I’m not getting good cuts, I just thrown the blade away and use a new one.

Question: Can I sharpen the Cricut Maker Knife Blade?

Answer: Yes! You can use a ball of aluminium foil. Jab the knife blade into the ball around 50 times; tilt the blade so that it goes it at different angles. I didn’t think this would work, so I didn’t bother to take “before” and “after” photos… but it actually worked quite well.


Ready to download the project file?
Head over to the 📂Free Files Folder and enter the ✨ magic word. ✨
(If you don’t have the magic word, just fill in the form below first.)


Don’t want to forget about this project? Save it for later by pinning on Pinterest!

Categories // Cardboard, Cricut Projects

Comments

  1. Carol Wright says

    April 24, 2020 at 1:39 pm

    The tool caddy is a great idea. Makes me wish I had a Cricut Maker instead of my Explore Air! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 24, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      You never know what the future holds! The Explore Air is pretty awesome too.

      Reply
  2. Karen says

    April 26, 2020 at 2:47 pm

    Brilliant. Thanks so much. I just upgraded to the Maker and, of course, bought all the blades. Nice to have a project to start out with.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 26, 2020 at 6:42 pm

      The first time I heard of Cricut was when I was looking to get some family shirts custom made. Then I discovered I could do it myself… and the whole world of Cricut and different materials opened up! Every time I see a new blade or tip, I think “oh, what would I ever use that for??” Magically, I find a project that it’s perfect for!

      Reply
  3. Danielle Genest says

    April 28, 2020 at 3:41 am

    Merci enfin une chose que je vais apprécier.

    Reply
  4. Rebecca says

    May 2, 2020 at 2:37 pm

    What a great idea! I’ve got it all cut out…BUT…how do you assemble?! The wording is at the top & bottom of the of the images, so why does yours look like it is on the shelf piece? How does that work? HELP.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 2, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      Rebecca – You’ve busted me! In the photos of the cardboard one in the post, I glued them on the wrong way! That’s why the labels are there. If you look at the photos of the pink caddy, they are correct.

      However, since I had already made three of them at that point, I didn’t bother to go back and update the photos.

      Reply
  5. Roberta Broussard says

    May 3, 2020 at 6:40 pm

    My mat says too big. How do I get it to cut?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 4, 2020 at 12:09 am

      Hi Roberta! The width of the blade caddy is 11 inches, and the Cricut will cut up to 11.5 inches on a normal 12×12 inch mat. I’m wondering if you accidentally attached some things together that shouldn’t be? For example, if the sides were selected at the same time the shelf labels were and they all got attached together… then it would be too large for a mat.

      Reply
  6. Roberta Broussard says

    May 4, 2020 at 3:35 am

    I made the Cricut Blade Caddy today. It’s a great project and I’m going to make one for a friend. Thank you so much for the svg.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      May 16, 2020 at 1:02 pm

      I’m so glad you were able to make it!

      Reply
  7. Ellyn says

    January 7, 2021 at 5:57 am

    I’ve tried at least two different boxes, my white rings are pushed to the side but my mat won’t load or it only loads halfway 🙁 My maker even started cutting into itself even after I unloaded. Any tips?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      January 7, 2021 at 6:42 pm

      I am working on updating the post with photos of boxes that work and those that won’t, but other options to use. I will let you know when it’s updated!

      Reply
    • Emily says

      January 21, 2021 at 8:58 pm

      I updated the cardboard post. Basically, it needs to be under 3 mm thick and shouldn’t be a double-wall corrugation. Here is the post. https://minordiy.com/cutting-cardboard-cricut-knife-blade/

      Reply
  8. Cheryl A Brown says

    February 18, 2021 at 9:18 pm

    Do you think Kraft Board would work?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 18, 2021 at 9:35 pm

      Yes! I just checked the Kraft Board that I have. It’s about the same as the thin cardboard or poster board, so you will want to glue 3 or 4 pieces together to make a thick, sturdier piece.

      Reply
  9. Elaine Barnett says

    March 1, 2021 at 5:45 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Thank you so much

    Reply
  10. Emmalee Walters says

    March 11, 2021 at 9:24 pm

    Hi! I’m just trying to make this awesome accessory, but it only uploads at 19cm long for the entire file, which makes the parts that hold the blades only 8cm along. When I print it, it is too small for my blades to fit in. How long should it be if all the images upload as one piece on the canvas with multiple cuts?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 14, 2021 at 12:53 pm

      Hi Emmalee! Importing as the incorrect size usually happens on an iPad or iPhone, but with the DS updates it seems to be happening more frequently!

      If you are using the basic SVG without any images, the original group with all pieces in it is 27.186 inches or 61 cm wide.

      Reply
  11. Carol Lachance says

    March 28, 2021 at 1:54 am

    Hi Emily,
    I was so excited to download this tool shelf for my new maker but the chip board comes out all torn up and the blade gets all full of paper and it stopped cutting after the fourth cut. I gave up and tried printing and cutting the labels and some of the printing seems to not come out all the way on the picture one. When I go to cut and print the shelf labels it says I have the wrong pen, so it won’t print. There is a yellow mark on the right side. What am I doing wrong?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 30, 2021 at 9:02 pm

      Hi Carol! it’s so disappointing when a project doesn’t work like it’s supposed to!! I’ll try to troubleshoot a bit.

      First of all, do you have the wheels moved to the side so they aren’t on the chip board? If not, they definitely could be tearing it.

      Have you tried cleaning/sharpening the knife blade by poking it repeatedly into a ball of aluminum foil? Even if it’s a new blade, this could help.

      Is your material taped down firmly? If it moves at all, it will tear up the chipboard.

      Is the chipboard in good shape? It hasn’t gotten damp or warped or anything by any chance?

      That “Wrong Pen” error happens every time. To fix it, simply click on the box with the ? and choose a pen color.

      Reply
  12. Katy says

    March 28, 2021 at 7:53 pm

    I love this!! It’s such a great piece of kit and is very very useful!

    One question, I am looking for a font to use when writing with my maker and love this one can you tell me what its called/where to find it?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 30, 2021 at 8:52 pm

      I’m so glad you like it! The font is called Existence Light and is 100% free on DaFont.

      https://www.dafont.com/existence.font

      Reply
  13. freshlyfuji says

    February 8, 2022 at 8:53 pm

    Holy cow! This is next level organization and so detailed! 😲 I have all my Cricut tools in a clear pouch hahaha. Maybe I need to make one of these!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 9, 2022 at 9:37 am

      I have enough extra tools that I also have a pouch. And a basket. 😂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Crafting Supplies Heart | Maggie Rose Design Co says:
    January 30, 2021 at 9:59 am

    […] Minor from Minor DIY used my designs to create a Cricut Hanging Blade Caddy you can make with material you already have at home. Who doesn’t love to […]

    Reply
  2. DIY Sharpie Marker Holder for your desk » Minor DIY says:
    May 14, 2021 at 3:55 pm

    […] it is sitting next to my Cricut Maker. You can also make the Blade Caddy seen […]

    Reply
  3. New Craft Room Design » Minor DIY says:
    September 27, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    […] Cricut Hanging Blade Caddy was designed to fit my small […]

    Reply

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